Effect of material properties and anchorage location on load-bearing capacity of screw-connected and hung cabinets

Effects of material type and thickness of selected wood-based composites for construction of cabinets and anchorage location of screws attaching cabinets to the wall on the vertical load-bearing capacity of four-sided wall cabinets were investigated. Experimental results show that screw anchorage location significantly affected the load-bearing capacity of four-sided wall cabinets. Cabinets anchored to the wall from their sides had a significantly higher vertical load-bearing capacity than the ones anchored to the wall from their top. Plywood (PLY) cabinets had a significantly higher vertical load-bearing capacity than medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) cabinets. MDF cabinets tended to have higher vertical load-bearing capacities than PB, but the significance was affected by screw anchorage location and material thickness. The vertical load-bearing capacity of PB cabinets was governed by its material modulus of rupture (MOR) and density, whereas MDF cabinets anchored from the sides were governed by their material internal bond strength and MDF cabinets anchored from the top by their material MOR and thickness. The vertical load-bearing capacity of PLY cabinets was dominated by material thickness only.